B-R says he started his minor league career in Seattle’s minor league system as a 25-year old and batted .367/.387/.433/.820 with 5 K and 1 BB in 31 PAs (.440 BABIP). Then he made 2 very brief (6 PAs) stops in the rookie-ball and Class-A+. He didn’t play in 2010.

“I went home Thursday night, thinking we had a deal with the Yankees,” Armstrong said. “Pending an exchange of the physical information of the players involved. The next morning, when we got into the details of the physicals of the players involved, one of the players that was coming to us from the Yankees was disabled, and based upon the best medical information that our team medical director, Edward Khalfayan, had, he recommended that we not proceed. Jack (Zduriencik) and his people then spent some time with the Yankees trying to come up with an alternative player, or players, to replace that player. Or even players to be named later. If we could come up with that. In the meantime, other clubs became involved. The White Sox, Minnesota and Texas to name a few.”

October 11, 2010

From early indications, it looks as if Joey Cora will likely be back as bench coach for the Chicago White Sox next season.

According to a major league source, the Seattle Mariners never considered Cora a candidate for their managerial opening and the Pittsburgh Pirates don’t have Ozzie Guillen’s right-hand man on their preliminary list of candidates for their manager opening. …

Cora isn’t in the running for the Florida Marlins manager job either says Padilla.

September 28, 2010

Doug (Chicago): Do you think everyone from Ozzie’s coaching staff will be back or will someone like Cora get a mgr’s job and Walker potentially resigning?

Bruce Levine: Walker I believe will be back. He and Ozzie occasionaly go back and forth with each other but they have a good understanding these days. Walker is also a close personal friend of Reinsdorf and they have an understanding with each other as well. Joey Cora has a real good shot at the job in Seattle. He interviewed there two years ago before Wakamatsu got the job. I’m hearing it’s between Joey and San Diego bench coach Ted Simmons.

Cliff Lee is joining his fourth team in 12 months and the Rangers are hoping he can lead them to the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. The Rangers pried Lee away from the Mariners and multiple suitors today in a blockbuster deal that makes the 50-35 Rangers clear favorites to win the AL West.

July 8, 2010

I’m hearing rumblings that the White Sox are at least kicking tires [on Cliff Lee] — which isn’t surprising, considering their hot streak that has thrust them back into contention, and their GM, Ken Williams, who never shies away from blockbusters.

July 2, 2010

Much of the attention this trading season, and rightfully so, will be on Mariners’ left-handed starter Cliff Lee, and competing teams now say they believe trade talks involving the Seattle star are starting to heat up. One GM estimated “12 to 15 teams” will show interest, and not just the teams that are mentioned most often right now, like the Twins, Mets, Yankees, Rangers, Angels, Cardinals and Dodgers. It also appears the Rays and Phillies are in the mix.